Use SuperSearch to find books by title, author, or keywords. Apply the “In the Library” and “Books” filters to narrow results to physical books.
Learn more about using SuperSearch, including Advanced Search options.
Can’t find the book you need at Cowles Library? Try borrowing from FastTRAC or Interlibrary Loan (ILL). You can also request that the library purchase a copy for our collection.
Use this form to find eBooks in SuperSearch. Results will be pre-filtered to “Full-text online” and “Books.” If you are off campus, you’ll be prompted for your Drake credentials to view eBook content.
All eBooks can be viewed online with a current browser on a Mac or PC. Many collections also allow you to download chapters or even the full book. See the table below for more information.
Instructors looking for eBooks to use as course texts can get assistance from your library liaison. Our Course Materials page has more information.
Cowles Library subscribes to a number of eBook collections. Here are some of the most prominent:
| Collection | Full Title Downloads |
Chapter Downloads |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| AccessPharmacy | No | No | Over 20 pharmacy and health science books, including Depiro, Goodman & Gilman's, Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, and NAPLEX review questions. |
| ASHP eBooks | Yes | Yes | Pharmacy-specific clinical and management information. |
| Cambridge Histories Online | No | Yes | More than 290 volumes published since the 1960s, covering more than 15 academic subjects. |
| CREDO Reference | No | Yes | More than 500 highly regarded reference sources covering every major subject, from art to medicine, psychology to history and technology to literature. |
| Directory of Open Access Books | Yes | Some | Thousands of academic, peer-reviewed books from hundreds of publishers. The ability to download individual chapters varies by publisher platform. |
| EBSCO Academic eBook Collection | Yes | Yes | Chapters can be downloaded as PDF files; check out our tutorial. Other download options require Adobe Digital Editions and a My EBSCOhost account. Mobile requires free BlueFire Reader app. |
| Elsevier Freedom Collection Books | Yes | Yes | Book chapters from more than 11,000 science, medical and technical books. Downloading the full book actually creates a .zip file of all individual chapter files. |
| Gale eBooks | No | Yes | A collection of reference works on the Arts, Business, Education, Law, Literature, Medicine, Multicultural Studies, Nation & World, Religion, and the Social Sciences. |
| JSTOR Books | No | Yes | Access more than 65,000 eBooks from scholarly publishers. |
| Overdrive (Libby) | Yes | No | Thousands of popular fiction and nonfiction titles, including audiobooks. Requires creating a free personal account. See our Overdrive guide for more information. |
| Oxford Handbooks Online | No | Yes | Online versions of the Oxford Handbooks, available in Business & Management, Philosophy, Political Science, Religion, Literature, Psychology, and History subject modules. |
| Oxford Reference Online | No | No | Access to dictionaries & reference works in the humanities, sciences, and social sciences is limited to 5 simultaneous users. |
| Oxford Scholarship Online | No | Yes | Over 4,000 eBooks published from 2016-present in the humanities, sciences, business, and social sciences. |
| Oxford Very Short Introductions | No | Yes | Hundreds of concise, original texts on wide-ranging topics. Each book discusses the central issues in a given topic. |
| PharmacyLibrary (APhA) | No | No | Dozens of key pharmacy texts. Online viewing only. |
| Springer eBook Collections | Yes | Yes | Many titles offer MyCopy, which allows you to buy a softcover b&w copy of the book for $24.99. |
Information about borrowing, renewing, and materials available for checkout
Course ReservesUse materials placed on reserve by your instructors
FastTRACBorrow books directly from other Iowa academic library partners
Interlibrary LoanBorrow material from libraries around the world
Request a PurchaseAsk the library to purchase books or other research materials
Drake history and Iowa political papers
Digital CollectionsOnline access to unique items from the University Archives
Featured CollectionsBooks, eBooks, and videos we highlight throughout the year
Other Campus CollectionsHandpicked by experts for your area of study
Research ConsultationSchedule a one-on-one session with a librarian
Librarians who specialize in your area of study
Citing SourcesFind, organize, and use your citations
TutoringWriting Center, Speaking Center, and other Tutoring
Study SkillsTools & resources to help develop your study skills
What we teach and how we can help in your courses
Library LiaisonsConnect with a librarian
Course ReservesPut material on reserve for your courses
Help with course material adoptions and textbook alternatives
OERExplore, adopt, adapt, and create open educational resources
Publishing SupportResources to help you publish your research
What we do and why
VisitHours, directions, and guidelines for your Archives visit
PoliciesPolicies governing use of Archives resources and services
Contact & SupportReach, follow, and support the Archives
Guides, tutorials, and library expertise to help you succeed as a scholar
Using the LibraryBorrowing materials, finding a study space, locating services
Drake OnlineLibrary services and support directed toward Drake Online and other off-campus students
Feedback & ProblemsProvide feedback or resolve a problem with the library
Resources and information literacy expertise to support your teaching
Requesting MaterialsCowles Library faculty and staff profiles
JobsStudent employment at Cowles Library
Where we are and when we're open
Alumni & VisitorsServices for Drake alumni and visitors
Navigate the library
Room ReservationsCheck availability and reserve a room
Computers & PrintingTechnology in the library
